When visiting Cartagena or landing via a cruise, a must try is Asiático Coffee

The flavour of Cartagena’s Asiático Coffee is a favourite for locals and visitors alike.

If you’re looking for good coffee and are willing to try something new, Cartagena’s Asiático provides a rich coffee experience that makes the classic Irish ‘floater’ coffee seem rather bland in comparison. The culture around this peculiarly Murcian beverage goes back to the influence of foreign seamen when Cartagena was a bustling trade port in the early 20th century.

The exact recipe (including condensed milk, two different types of alcohol, and spices) and fashion for drinking the Asiático has evolved over the years and the José Diaz Asiático Shop on Calle Carmen has been influential in guiding the drink’s development, including supplying the iconic Asiático drinking glass with its unique shape.

An Asiático is available in virtually any bar or restaurant in the city but if you would like to purchase a unique Cartagena gift, then the Café Asiático shop offers the special glasses in which this is served, along with a variety of other items.

The Café Asiático shop offers a wide variety of coffee-themed souvenirs and keepsakes but for the visitor to Cartagena, the most popular purchase is often one of the store’s ‘all in one’ gift sets that contain everything you need to reproduce a perfect Cartagena Asiático in the comfort of your own home.

Easily found in the central ‘old town’ area of the city, Café Asiático is a one stop shop for everything connected to this famous drink. And their online store means that even after returning home, visitors can enjoy an Asiático and remember this historical Mediterranean port.

The Café Asiático store is a source of everything to do with Cartagena’s famous style of coffee. Established since 1898, the Asiático shop can be found on Calle Carmen, Cartagena, catering to visitors, tourists, and locals alike.

The Asiático dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. The original drink was inspired by Asian sailors on shore leave in the Murcian port. Many of them would take their coffee with condensed milk and brandy for a combination that was both sweet and strong. Over time, the recipe has evolved to include Licor 43, lemon zest and cinnamon, and to be truly authentic, the final drink must be served in a special Asiático copa which looks like a cross between a coffee glass and ice cream sundae. The Café Asiático shop began producing these glasses in 1945 and these days, the iconic copa is a well-known symbol of the city of Cartagena.

In fact, the shape of the glass has become essential for the perfect Asiático. The glass’s distinctive double-ribbed shape – a narrow support which then flares out to form a wider upper bowl – is used to measure the different ingredients: for example, the first set of ribs must be covered with condensed milk, the second set with brandy and Licor 43, and so on. The glass ensures that every drink served is a perfect Asiático.

In addition to supplying the glassware, the Café Asiático store of course offers all the necessary ingredients for the perfect Asiático. Their most popular product range is a selection of gift sets of varying sizes, each containing everything you need to make an authentic Asiático: the glasses, Licor 43, brandy, condensed milk, coffee beans and, perhaps most importantly, a step by step guide on how to prepare the drink – about the only thing not included is the water for the coffee.

The shop also stocks a wide range of souvenirs and novelty merchandise connected with the famous beverage, including t-shirts, keyrings, pens, badges, notebooks and postcards.

The Café Asiático store is found in the heart of the city centre, with nearby underground parking at the Plaza España. The opening hours are 10am to 1.30pm, and then 5pm to 8.30pm.